Turn End-of-Life Tires Into Saleable Materials and Energy Products
A buyer-focused guide to plant process flows, output products, and the equipment decisions that drive uptime, purity, and cost per ton—built on practical engineering logic for professional operators.
A tire recycling plant processes end-of-life tires (ELTs) into reusable materials (crumb rubber, steel, fiber) and/or energy products (TDF or pyrolysis outputs). Most profitable projects succeed because they match feedstock, target product specs, and offtake contracts—not because they chase peak capacity.
How Tire Recycling Plants Work
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1Receiving & feed control
Stabilize input so downstream equipment runs continuously. -
2Primary shredding
Whole tires → strips/chips suitable for separation and secondary reduction. -
3Steel liberation & magnetic separation
Remove steel early to protect granulators and improve rubber purity. -
4Secondary shredding / granulation
Chips → granules with tighter size distribution. -
5Fiber removal
Air classification + screening to reduce textile contamination. -
6Fine grinding to spec
Granules → crumb rubber/powder tailored to buyer requirements.
A practical comparison buyers expect.
- Clear product specs (crumb rubber sizes, purity targets)
- Often simpler permitting than thermochemical systems
- Strong fit when you have stable local buyers
- You can sell consistent crumb rubber/steel streams
- You prioritize uptime, cleanliness, and predictable OPEX
- Requires robust steel + fiber separation to hit premium specs
- Fine grinding increases wear and dust-control requirements
- Profitability depends on stable offtake pricing
- Higher technical complexity; product quality varies
- Offtake for recovered carbon materials must be secured early
Compact answers for buyers.
What is pyrolysis in tire recycling?
Pyrolysis is a controlled thermal process (low oxygen) that converts tires into oil, gas, and a solid carbon-rich residue. Outputs and yields vary by reactor design and operating conditions.
What makes crumb rubber “high quality” to buyers?
Size distribution, low steel content, low fiber content, and consistent lots. These factors determine whether your crumb can be sold into higher-value markets and reduce downstream customer complaints.
What equipment decision most impacts plant uptime?
Front-end shredding and stable feeding. A well-matched shredder configuration reduces jams, protects downstream equipment, and keeps your cost per ton predictable.
Process Flow Anchor Section
Inquiry Anchor Section